Argentinian Soto tests positive for cannabis after surprising victory over "Magnifico" Nuñez in Panama
By Gabriel F. Cordero
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 20 May 2025
The Panamanian Boxing Commission, through its public relations team, has announced that Argentine boxer Alfredo "Coki" Soto tested positive for cannabinoids at 78.8 ng/ml following his surprising victory over undefeated Panamanian star and super prospect Jose "El Magnifico" Nuñez (17-0-2, 7 KOs) in two rounds and three knockdowns at the "Tierra de Campeones" or "Atheyna Bylon" Gym in Panama City last Saturday, May 17. Time was 1:46 of the second round when the award-winning and experienced local referee Gustavo Padilla stopped the fight to protect the safety and future of Panama's great hope in an event organized by Sampson Boxing and broadcast internationally by TyC Sports.
Nuñez, Panama's great hope, was fighting for the WBA Fedelatin lightweight title, supervised by Octavio Rodriguez. of the WBA, and among those in attendance were future WBA president and Fedelatin president Don Alfredo Mendoza and the organization's senior advisor Don Oliver Gomez.
The Panamanian super prospect's surprising and massive defeat was a major blow to Panamanian boxing, similar to Duran's defeat to Leonard in the WBC title rematch in November 1980, or Zapata's defeat to Mexican "Panterita" Ursua in 1982 for the WBC world title at the historic "Nuevo Panama" Gym, renamed Roberto Duran.
For "Coki" Soto, it was his first fight outside of Argentina, and he had fought in Las Heras, Maipú, San Carlos, San Pedro, Tortuguitas, Medrano, San Lorenzo, Junín, Catamarca, Timbues, La Consulta, and Luna Park in Buenos Aires. Soto is trained by renowned former Argentine world champion Pablo Chacón and was trained at the Tres Acequias Club in Medrano, Junín. Darío Herrera as an amateur boxer.
Soto's defeat had been unfair at Luna Park against Elías Duguet on March 30, 2024, after a majority decision.
"Coki" Soto is still a provincial boxer who recently arrived at Argentina's sacred temple, Luna Park, because samples of marijuana could have been found in his urine. Because in Argentina there was no warning about this situation, the federations in the FAB or in Mendoza boxing remained silent. Why would Soto have such a need to commit such an affront, being outside his country for the first time in an important fight? Someone alive, that is, a normal human being, should be held accountable for what happened, not just the boxer, because it is also the duty of the Promoters, Commissions, and Coaching Staff to protect the boxer and boxing.
Well, in the end, the Panamanian boxing commission, led by international leader Jaime Salas, has asked the long-standing WBA to declare a no contest in the Soto-Nuñez fight.
Knowing the WBA's ongoing fight against drugs, it is almost certain that it will immediately seek to provide help to boxer Soto and reverse the tragedy that occurred in the defeat of the Panamanian star Nuñez.
Doping tests are not performed in Argentina.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Gabriel F. Cordero.
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